Hand sanitizers with improved aesthetics and skin-conditioning to encourage compliance with hand hygiene guidelines

Abstract

Hand sanitizers are provided with improved aesthetics and skin-conditioning effects, such that healthcare workers and others subject to high frequency hand hygiene requirements are encouraged to comply with said requirements. The hand sanitizers provide excellent antimicrobial efficacy and skin conditioning benefits that actually increase with increased frequency of use. The sanitizing compositions are hydroalcoholic, and contain a synergistic combination of skin-conditioning agents.

We claim: 
     
       1. A foamable healthcare personnel handwash composition that maintains or improves skin hydration, the composition consisting of:
 from 50 to 98 wt. % of one or more C 1-6  alcohols; 
 from 0.001 to 0.5 wt. % of avenanthramides; 
 from 0.001 to 0.3 wt. % of niacinamide; 
 from 0.002 to 4 wt. % of PEG-12 dimethicone, PEG-10 dimethicone, PEG-8 dimethicone, or combinations thereof; 
 from 0.005 to 1.0 wt. % of polyolprepolymer-2; 
 optionally, less than 1 wt. % of one or more skin conditioners selected from the group consisting of aloe, vitamin E, and diols straight chain; 
 optionally, less than 1 wt. % glycerin; 
 optionally, one or more essential oils; 
 optionally, less than 0.1 wt. % of one or more moisturizing esters selected from the group consisting of cetyl myristate, cetyl myristoleate, and other cetyl esters, diisopropyl sebacate, and isopropyl myristate; and 
 water, 
 wherein each weight percentage is based upon the total weight of the composition, and 
 wherein the viscosity of the composition is less than 100 cps at 22° C. 
 
     
     
       2. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the diol consists of one or more C 6-10  alkane diols.